BMC polls 2017: Congress brainstorms on whether to support Shiv Sena or not

However, BJP and Shiv Sena so far mum on coming together

Even though BJP and Shiv Sena are non committal about joining hands together in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Congress party internally has started deliberations weighing an option of extending support from outside to the Shiv Sena. The Congress party, which won 31 seats down from 52 in 2012 poll, hinted that the proposed arrangement may work on the one factor of opposition to the BJP.

A group of Congress leaders including a former chief minister, MPs and legislators today met and discussed the post poll strategy of supporting Shiv Sena in the election to the city mayor to keep BJP at bay.

The Shiv Sena won 84 seats in the 227-member BMC, and so far has received support from two independents. BJP came second by winning 82 seats and got support from one independent. The Congress won 31 seats, Nationalist Congress Party 9, MNS 7, Samajwadi Party 6, MIM 3, Independents 4 and Akhil Bharatiya Sena won one seat.

Incidentally, both Shiv Sena and BJP are short of the magic figure of 114 seats to win the mayoral election.

Congress legislator Abdul Sattar said, ''The party will take a call on extending support after it receives a formal offer from Shiv Sena. Our main rival is BJP and therefore the Congress party's state unit will submit a formal proposal to the high command on supporting Shiv Sena not only in BMC, but in other civic and local bodies across Maharashtra as well.''

A Congress MP, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard,'' A group of party leaders held initial talks on exploring the option of supporting Shiv Sena from outside in BMC. Party leaders will hold telephonic talks and will also meet Shiv Sena leaders in due course. Besides, the party high command has been informed and the final decision will be taken after its approval, with lone objective of keeping BJP at bay.''

However, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray refused to talk about who Mumbai's new mayor will be, as he celebrated his party's retaining the No. 1 spot in the BMC with 84 seats. "We are celebrating today. I have not thought of anything right now," the Sena chief said at his Mumbai home, Matoshree, where massive crowds gathered, adding that "discussions are on." He did not say with whom.

Thackeray had said yesterday that Shiv Sena will win mayoral poll and also the party will hold the post of chief minister. He however, declined to divulge details. Despite the bitter fight, Shiv Sena is still BJP's ruling partner in the state and at the Centre. The party hopes to take a call on whether or not to part ways after March 11 when the results of five assembly elections will be declared.

But Union Minister for Roads and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, was more forthcoming. He said, ''The situation now is that both parties (the BJP and Shiv Sena) have no option but to come together again." The decision of course, he said, has to be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Shiv Sena chief.

"Both are mature and I am sure they will take the right decision," said Gadkari.

Furthermore, BJP state unit chief Raosaheb Danve said there is no enemy in the politics and indicated that BJP was open for an alliance with Shiv Sena in the BMC. When asked about possible tie up between Shiv Sena and Congress, Danve replied that it would expose Congress party thoroughly about being secular.